Hi,

> 6. You should also obtain some test equipment (oscilloscope, multimeter,
> frequency generator) and do some breadboarding experiments on simple
> electronic circuits. A good way to start is to measurement the response to
> different inputs, and try to validate the device specifications.
>
>>> This I think is the key.  If I can SEE what is happening from one 
>>> component to another, then I think I will make a huge leap in 
>>> understanding.  I had just acquired a scope when I had to dismantle 
>>> everything (because of moving and no place to work.)

    Just be very carefull because you will usually see "voltage" but in many 
circuits the "current" is what really controls the transistors and with the 
scope you will just see the "effects" of current at some load. Be carefull 
with that..

    There are some books that are great to have around as close as possible. 
:-) Two of my favorites is the old and faithfull "The Art of Electronics" 
and another one that I could not live without is "The Circuit Designer's 
Companion".

    A Spice simulator may also help a lot because you can "see" current 
there :-) Be carefull because it is just a modeling tool and not the real 
circuit.. I like Linear Devices "SwitcherCad" because it is quite easy to 
use and the price is just right, free...

    Besides that the main thing is to read all you can get your hands at ;-) 
I also have a background in programming and have been working as a hardware 
designer for almost 10 years but as a hobby I started electronics long 
before programming.. The piclist is the most incredible source of 
information I have ever seen. Take a look at the archives and search for all 
the posts from a guy named "Roman Black". He and Russel have a very nice and 
quite unique way of describing the circuits they have published and it is 
worthwhile specially because they make the analysis in a "intuitive" way 
with very little math. There are many other people with invaluable posts on 
the list. Unfortunatelly Roman and many others have decided to leave the 
list but it is all in the archives...

    Asking questions around here usually works also. Just make sure you ask 
them after you have done your "homework" and there will always be many 
people willing to help, even if the questions are basic. Just make sure you 
look around before asking :-)


Best regards,
Alexandre Guimaraes

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